Saturday, May 23, 1998
Children's Hospital Medical Center has received a five-year, $7.9 million grant to expand its research and education programs for sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disease that primarily affects blacks. About 500 Tristate residents have the disease, and another 20,000 carry the gene but have no symptoms.
The grant from the National Institutes of Health will more than double the research funding at the Cincinnati Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, founded by Children's Hospital and a local parents' group in 1971. "This really allows us to be players on the national field of sickle cell research," said center director Dr. Clinton Joiner.
Arson suspected in Fairview Heights
The Cincinnati Fire Division suspects arson as the cause of a blaze that did $10,000 damage early Friday to a building in the 2300 block of West Clifton Avenue in Fairview Heights.
No one was injured in the fire that began about 2:45 a.m. near a doorway on the first floor. Fire investigators have not yet ruled on the cause.
Leis is honored for crime victim work
Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis is one of 55 people recognized by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer for their work with the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program.
Sheriff Leis has worked with the program's Public Awareness Advisory Council, helping elected officials make victims of crime more aware of the compensation fund.
The compensation program helps pay medical, counseling and funeral expenses and lost wages to crime victims throughout Ohio. The program is funded from court costs assessed against people who are convicted of or plead guilty to a felony or misdemeanor, and those whose driver's license is reinstated following a drunken driving conviction.
The program has awarded $160 million to more than 50,000 Ohioans since 1976, including $12 million to at least 5,600 Hamilton County residents.
Patrol on the lookout for impaired drivers
XENIA -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be operating a sobriety checkpoint in Greene County today to deter and intercept alcohol- or drug-impaired drivers.
Lt. Cliff Shaffner, commander of the patrol's post in Xenia, said officers will be making roadside checks at a location to be announced this afternoon. "We want to impress upon those who will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or make other arrangements," Lt. Shaffner said Friday.
Other law enforcement agencies -- including officers from Beavercreek, Fairborn and the Greene County Sheriff's Department -- will assist with the effort.
Member of Lebanon planning group resigns
LEBANON -- Citing urgent personal obligations, Dr. Henry Neuhasser resigned this week from the city's five-member planning commission. City council could appoint his replacement at its council meeting Tuesday.
Blind woman may lose home over paperwork
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio -- A blind woman soon may be without a home.
Melody Manning, 32, said she was being evicted from her house because she was two days late filing paperwork to certify her eligibility to remain at the home.
Ms. Manning said she missed the deadline because of her inability to read her mail and difficulty finding transportation.
Her attorney, Kristen Louderback, said Ms. Manning has to be out within 10 days after a Fairborn Municipal Court magistrate upheld the eviction.
Susan Stiles, executive director of the Greene Metropolitan Housing Authority in Xenia, said officials made eight written attempts to contact Ms. Manning about recertification.
Contract change will cost jobs at air base
DAYTON, Ohio -- The jobs of 308 civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will be affected by efforts to shift work to private contractors.
Base spokeswoman Helen Kavanaugh said Friday that 196 employees will lose their government jobs, but some will be hired by the contractors. The remaining 112 workers will be either reassigned or changed to lower pay grades.
